Renewable and Non-renewable Resources
Class 6 Science · Chapter 11: Nature's Treasures · NCERT Curiosity section 11.7–11.8
Learn
Some natural resources are replaced by nature quickly: sunlight, wind, rainwater, and forests (if we replant them). These are renewable resources. Others, like coal, petroleum and minerals, take millions of years to form: non-renewable resources.
Even renewable resources can run short if we misuse them: cutting forests faster than they grow, or polluting rivers. Using resources carefully so that they last for future generations is called sustainable use.
We can all help with the 3 Rs: Reduce (use less), Reuse (use things again), Recycle (turn waste into new things). A cloth bag, a refilled water bottle and writing on both sides of paper are simple starts.
Explore: renewable or not?
- Sort each resource.
Remember
- Renewable resources are replaced quickly by nature; non-renewable ones are not.
- Reduce, reuse and recycle help us use resources sustainably.
Quick check
Which of these is a renewable resource?
- Wind
- Coal
- Petroleum
- Natural gas
Answer
Wind. Wind keeps blowing and is replaced naturally.
Think about it
A village has a big forest. How can the villagers use its wood and still keep the forest for the future?
One answer
Cut only fallen or a few old trees, plant new saplings for every tree cut, protect young trees from grazing, and use fallen leaves and twigs instead of cutting live trees. This keeps the forest renewable.
Practice
Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.